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NOHRPS Newsletter April 09

Date Sent: 08/16/2010

Message from the President

Dear Members:

Glorious Spring is almost upon us – I know its coming because I’m writing this in anticipation of the Indians’ Home Opener and the Cavaliers entering the playoffs. And of course spring signifies renewal and growth – even with NOHRPS. Please join me welcoming your new crop of leaders! (I admit it’s rather a corny segue.)

The Northeast Ohio Human Resource Planning Society’s biennial election for the Board of Directors for the period 2009-2011 was held at our March 26 meeting. Your new slate of directors include:

Please feel free to contact any of us with your thoughts and suggestions on how we can continue to make NOHRPS a vibrant, stimulating and thriving professional association.

Please also take a moment to consider if there are human resource and business leaders you know that may be interested in joining or attending NOHRPS and forward their contact information to Rob Gilmore or Joe Murphy at rsg@kjk.com or joe.murphy@shakercg.com.

I look forward to seeing you at our Wednesday, May 20, afternoon program in collaboration with CSHRM.

Bring your notebook and pen and prepare to take notes on why offering "green" products and services realizes widespread benefits - from boosting your bottom line to an improved corporate image - while at the same time contributing to sustainable development. Sudhakar Kesavan, CEO, ICF International, will share his tremendous insight on the decision-making process and how "going green" makes good business sense. Learn how and why ICF International decided to enter a carbon offset purchase agreement and undertake other energy efficiency measures to fully offset carbon emissions from its 23 offices worldwide by April 2008. In 1997, Mr. Kesavan was named President of the ICF Consulting Group when it was a subsidiary of ICF Kaiser. In 1999, the Group was divested from Kaiser and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company through a joint effort of the management and CM Equity Partners, and ICF International was launched as an independent company. Mr. Kesavan received his Master of Science degree from the Technology and Policy Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), his postgraduate diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and his Bachelor of Technology degree (chemical engineering) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Mr. Kesavan serves on the Board of the Rainforest Alliance , a New York based nonprofit environmental organization committed to protecting ecosystems by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior. In 2007,Washington SmartCEO honored Mr. Kesavan as one of the Future 50, the magazine’s honor to chief executives of the Washington metropolitan area's fastest growing companies

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Past Program Summary - January 09

The topic of managing the media and crisis communications is not a usual
HR topic for NOHRPS. However, at our January meeting, media expert
Bruce Hennes helped us understand why it should be. This was the
highest evaluated program for NOHRPS in the last three years. Bruce
provided an overview and practical examples of media landmines and a
memorable three step approach of how to deal with the media such as:

"Tell it All",
"Tell the Truth"
"Tell it First"

He also helped us understand the approach the media takes to establish
story frameworks with good guys and bad guys. He noted we may fall into
the negative light, despite facts and truth, depending on how the story
develops. He helped us to frame our story and provide a perspective
from the employer's point of view that can turn a potentially negative
event into a neutral or possibly a positive one. We all felt this was a
high value meeting.

If anyone needs support in this area, please feel free to reach out to
Bruce @ Hennes Communications; 216 321 7774. We hope you never need
this number.

Past Program Summary - March 09

Experts Within: Peer to Peer Exchange

The March meeting showcased our expertise, focused our collective knowledge into a process of documented exchange, and provided a format that cultivated deeper personal relationships between participants. This meeting was further evidence that NOHRPS delivers meeting content that stimulates professional exchange and fosters innovation.

Each table explored two of the three topics listed below, spending about 30-40 minutes per topic.
• Leadership development demands driven by boomer retirement
• Aligning culture with strategy
• Maintaining goal focus in challenging times

The meeting concluded with each group sharing one example of the rich nature of exchange that took place.

A high level of engagement was felt throughout the room. It was truly a robust exchange, marked by sincere appreciation for the depth of sharing and genuine respect for the solid content and diversity of perspectives. As is often the case with high value activities, it was a challenge to bring the dialogue to an end.

Our design intent was to provide a format to optimize the exchange of ideas. To that end, NOHRPS will type all the participant notes into a summary document. This document will be posted to the web site and available for download. You will receive a notification when the document becomes available.

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NOHRPS Business and Announcements

Membership Networking Event – Be One, Get One

This summer NOHRPS will host a meeting to provide an entertaining and informal gathering. The purpose is twofold:
1. Expand the depth and quality of personal and professional relationships among members and
2. Expose prospective members to the high caliber of talent engaged in our professional community.

We ask and challenge you to be an advocate for our organization. Be a member and get a member. People you know may be excellent candidates for membership in NOHRPS. Begin by opening a discussion about NOHRPS with individuals in your network. Have them join our mailing list at www.nohrps.org . They will get the invitation when we announce the summer Membership Networking event. So will you.

When you receive that mailing, reach out to the individuals you targeted. Encourage them to attend the gathering. This will be a great way for them to learn about the benefits of membership and participation, expand their professional network and increase their access to the HR thought leaders in our community.